Be entertained and filled with spirit as Dave Wickerham returns with his Treasured Wurlitzer Christmas Celebration, Sunday, December 14 at 2 PM – on the newly restored McKissick Mighty Wurlitzer in Lincoln Hall – performing contemporary Christmas tunes and sacred classics, as well as an audience carol sing-along in his ever-popular and sold out holiday concert.
Give this concert as a musical gift to your family – and bring the young ones too! – to prepare your hearts for the true meaning of Christmas in the hands of this genius-brilliant organist – and a man of faith. Be sure to reserve early – this concert always sells out!
Enjoy this video of his Christmas concert on Sunday December 17, 2017.
Master of the console, Dave Wickerham was honored with the “Organist of the Year” award by the American Theatre Organ Society in 2011 and has toured the world to rave reviews performing his unique arrangements and peerless improvisations. Brought back annually by popular demand, Dave is a favorite of ARCA audiences – old and young alike.
Dave’s programs have something for everyone – from Great American Song Book standards, Disney and popular pieces, to waltzes, rags, marches, orchestral pieces, classical works, hymns and patriotic medleys. His arrangements are always fresh, employing his improvisatorial ingenuity to create delightful surprises, sometimes with multiple combinations of genres in a single arrangement.
Dave Wickerham’s voicings are rich, fully utilizing the multitudinous ranks of the instrument and demonstrating the full range of instrumentation and the magnificent glory of the theatre organ – as he turns the Wurlitzer into a cathedral pipe organ, jazz ensemble, rag time band, bagpipes, and steam locomotive. And Dave always gives the piano and percussion shelf a complete work-out! No one can touch his outrageously genius improvisations based on audience requests given at concert intermissions – they are tour de force.
His recordings are treasured, including his fourth CD “Sounds of Music” recorded on the famous 5 Manual, 80 Rank Theatre Organ at the Sanfilippo Residence in Barrington, IL. We all can only hope for MORE.
From one of the preeminent theatre organists acclaimed worldwide, no one makes Lincoln Hall’s McKissick Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre organ sound more glorious or entertains our appreciative audience better than Dave Wickerham! And does he make the McKissick Mighty Wurlitzer percussion shelf ring! Here in Chattanooga Choo Choo from October 19, 2019
Dave also has delighted local students and teachers from Allegheny-Clarion Valley Schools in theatre organ educational concerts as part of ARCA’s Educational ArtReach Program in 2022.
In December 2022, following his sold out Christmas Wurlitzer concert in Lincoln Hall, on Monday morning, December 12, students from K to 6 and band and chorus students in Jr and Sr High School from Allegheny-Clarion Valley Schools were bused to Lincoln Hall for four “Informances”.
The internationally acclaimed theatre organist performed popular songs ranging from Disney and Star Wars to Harry Potter – and ending with the soundscape train whistle opening and Chattanooga Choo Choo. Demonstrating how the Wurlitzer organ would have been used a hundred years ago accompanying silent movies, Dave played his improvised score for a silent short of Laurel and Hardy’s “The Battle of the Century Pie Fight” to peals of laughter from the students.
The students were AMAZED and DELIGHTED especially by Wickerham’s demonstrations of the percussion instruments featured on a shelf at the back of the hall – snare drum, cymbals, marimba, and pitched sleigh bells.
Rediscover your child-like wonder and delight as this consummate keyboard artist performs Christmas carols, anthems, joyous holiday songs and a sing along on the newly restored McKissick Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ.
Let the Beloved Songs of Christmas open your heart – performed by one of the kindest, gentlest and most generous souls… evidenced by the glow you feel having experienced his inspired performance. http://www.davewickerham.com
ARCA is grateful to Carole Anderson for her generous gift sponsoring the return of her and her late husband John’s long-time favorite – Dave Wickerham – in his inspiring Wurlitzer Christmas at the time of their birthdays.
This concert will sell out so be sure to make your reservations early or buy online.
Tickets are Adults $25, Members $20, Students $5.
Call to Reserve at 724-659-3153 and pay by cash or check at the door. Buy Online here. Doors open at 1:30 PM.
About the Artist
Dave Wickerham was born in Encino, California in 1962. He began playing the electronic organ at the age of four and had his first pipe organ experience at age10. His musical education started at age 7.
When he moved to Arizona in 1976, he became Associate Organist at the famous Organ Stop Pizza Restaurants in Phoenix, Mesa and Tucson. While in, he continued his musical studies with Roseamond Crowley, one of the few remaining descendants of the Louis Vierne line of organists. He attended the University of Arizona in Tucson on a full scholarship, pursuing classical organ studies for six years with Dr. Roy Johnson.
In 1984, Dave moved to the Chicago area to become Staff Organist at Pipes and Pizza in Lansing, Illinois. In addition to his performance there, he concertized frequently, as well as ministering musically and serving at various churches.
August of 1990 found the Wickerham family – Dave, his wife and two young children – moving to Wisconsin, where he was one of the featured Staff Organists at the Piper Music Palace in Greenfield, a position he held for 10 years.
In the spring of 2000, Dave ushered in the new millennium with a limited special engagement, as a featured organist at “Roxy’s Pipe Organ Pizzeria”, part of a $26,000,000 expansion phase at the FIESTA Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wickerham’s, Dave, Rhonda, and now three great kids, spent a year and a half there before returning back home to Wisconsin in August of 2001… For the next three years, Dave resumed his position at the Piper Music Palace and was also the Principal Organist at Williams Bay Lutheran Church in Lake Geneva, WI.
He enjoys concertizing frequently to many audiences including various chapters of the American Theatre Organ Society. In April of 1999, he took great pleasure being a feature artist in Melbourne, Australia for the convention of the Theatre Organ Society of Australia for which he received rave reviews. He returned “Down Under” for a six-week concert tour in Australia and New Zealand during the summer of 2003 and completed similar tours in November of 2012 and October/November of 2015.
Dave also enjoys recording and has recently “sold out” his fourth CD “Sounds of Music” recorded on the famous 5 Manual, 80 Rank Theatre Organ at the Sanfilippo Residence in Barrington, IL. There are two NEW recording projects that are soon to be completed and released.
After seven years as Organist – Curator with the legendary Milhous Collection in South Florida, Dave currently lives in Upper Michigan where he has accepted the position of Co-Manager and Organist in Residence at Crystal Theatre in Crystal Falls. This 1927 theatre is a regional Performing Arts Center and houses a 3 manual, 21 rank Moller theatre organ that Dave also looks after. Until the passing of his beloved wife Rhonda in November, 2020 she worked at his side as Co-Manager of this beautiful and historic venue.
Dave has three grown kids, two married with children of their own. So, with three grandchildren and concertizing, there have been many opportunities for travel.
The McKissick Mighty Wurtlitzer
The Mighty McKissick Wurlitzer organ in Lincoln Hall is one of the best examples of this class of theatre organ. ARCA’s Wurlitzer contains seventeen ranks of pipes and is characterized by a balanced blend of unmistakeable Wurlitzer ‘sounds”. Built in 1928 at the Wurlitzer Organ factory in North Tonawanda outside of Buffalo and numbered OPUS 1989, the organ originally was installed in Cleveland’s Uptown Theatre. It was played for several years accompanying silent movies. With the end of the silent film era it was subsequently purchased by Richard Wheeler, a Cleveland organist, and remained in his home until Wheeler passed. Paul McKissick purchased it from the Haynes Company in North Canton, Ohio, where it had been in storage.
Paul lovingly and painstakingly rebuilt the instrument over eleven years and in 1999 the restored Wulrtlizer was installed in McKissick’s garage at their home in Lake Latonka near Mercer, PA. The organ became known as the Latona Pipes, and was played in annual benefits concerts to raise money for the DeBence Museum in Franklin. Dr. Arthur and Patricia Steffee attended one of the concerts. When Paul decided to downsize and was seeking a place for the Wurtlizer for the next generation, Dr. Arthur and Patricia Steffee, ARCA’s founders, purchased it to enhance the newly restored Lincoln Hall, on the second floor of the Foxburg Free Library.
Its seventeen ranks of pipes translate to 60 notes per voice or rank, more than 1200 pipes and 6,000 moving parts to make the Wurlitzer sound. Only the relay and computer are not authentic or vintage parts on the organ. The installation included one of Wurlitzer’s most unique features, the decorative ‘Toy Shelf’ of miniature instruments, which are displayed in a rear balcony in Lincoln Hall and are all powered by the organ. The marimba was added and all the associated drums, cymbals, bells and automatic piano produce a balanced blend of unmistakable Mighty Wurlitzer sounds.
ARCA audiences have enjoyed thirteen years of glorious music making on the McKissick Mighty Wurlitzer by some of the worlds greatest theatre organists – including David Wickerham, Jonas Nordwall, Clark Wilson, Brent Valliant, Martin Ellis, Walt Strony, Scott Foppiano, Donna Parker, Jelani Eddington and Ken Double. Jason Wiles is ARCA’s organ technician, maintaining and tuning the organ for each concert.
With thanks to all the generous donors whose gifts underwrote the year long Wurlitzer Restoration Project begun in May of 2024, ARCA’s organ technician Jason Wiles has returned the McKissick Mighty Wurlitzer to its full “Might” and made “Our Pipe Dreams Come True”.
With the Grand Debut Concert on June 1 concert performed by Dave Wickerham, the glory of the instrument has been renewed, guaranteeing that it be playing music beyond our lifetimes – so future audiences of all ages may be inspired by the glorious sounds of an ‘orchestra of pipes’ – of winds and brass and strings – and snare drum, cymbals and chimes.
It has ensured that the McKissick Mighty Wurlitzer will continue to enchant listeners with this treasured American form of musical performance and the timeless melodies from the Great American Songbook, movies and Broadway musicals in generations to come.
ARRIVE EARLY & Shop at the RBG!
Plan to Make a Day of it in beautiful Foxburg and get some Christmas Shopping done at the Red Brick Gallery before the concert!
Looking for one-of-a-kind gifts for those special people on your list? Be sure to visit The Red Brick Gallery and Gift Shop Annual Holiday Art Show & Exhibit – and shop locally for Christmas ornaments and special holiday gifts in a variety of media in the first-floor gift shop: Gorgeous pottery & ceramics, one-of-a kind silversmith, gem-stone & costume jewelry, fiber art, knit wearables and hand woven shawls and rugs, oil & watercolor paintings, and pencil drawings & fine art photography.
Glittering with Christmas decorations, The Red Brick Gallery and Gift Shop Annual Holiday Art Show & Exhibit will be open before the TAKE3 Christmas concert on Sunday, December 7 from noon to 5 PM for your Christmas shopping to find a gift created by the talented Cooperative Artists from the region. Current members of the Red Brick Gallery Artist Cooperative are Karin Arnds, Taylor Banner, Chris Bauer, Joanne Crosbie, Kurt Crosbie, Mark DeWalt, Mel Dunlap, Donna Edmonds, Ann Harting, Kathy Hogg, Dennis Keyes, Jason Floyd Lewis, Karen Mortland, Charlie Platt, Nissa Rappoport, Cathy & Jack Trzeciak, and Heidi Wirtner.
Original, high quality, artisan-made gifts created by Red Brick Gallery Cooperative Member Artists will be for sale on two floors of the gallery in a variety of media: Silver and gemstone jewelry, whimsical costume jewelry, pottery bowls and mugs, hand woven scarves and rugs, hand-turned wooden vases, rustic wooden tables and natural wood cutting boards and wine holders, wearable art, hand-made baskets, oil and watercolor paintings, pencil drawings, fine art photography, and greeting cards.
There will be something for everyone on your holiday list, and maybe even a few items for yourself!
Make It a Foxburg Holiday Outing!
Enjoy the beauty of Christmas in historic, storybook Foxburg village, decorated for the holidays with thousands of lights and colorful decorations – overlooking the beautiful Allegheny-Clarion River valley.
ALLEGHENY GRILLE
MAKE IT LUNCH or DINNER AND A CONCERT: During the holiday season before or after Dave Wickerham’s Christmas concert, enjoy the fine dining menu at the Allegheny Grille – at a table in front of the fireplace – cozy and warm – or at a table overlooking the Allegheny River, beautiful in any season!
Enjoy their seasonal cocktails, weekend specials and enticing desserts.
Be sure to make a reservation to ensure that you have a seat – and plan to arrive early enough before a concert to be served in their main dining room with plenty of time to get to Lincoln Hall!
FOXBURG PIZZA
Or for more casual fare, dine at Foxburg Pizza with delicious salads, a huge variety of sandwiches and pizzas of the month – and every combination you can think of!
The dining rooms is ALL decorated for Christmas and Light Up Night – when Santa greeted the children and gave them gifts, compliments of the Foxburg Chamber of Commerce.
FOXBURG WINE CELLARS
Be sure to save time to enjoy a wine tasting in the newly renovated Foxburg Wine Cellars or enjoy a bottle of wine on the beautiful patio insulated for winter enjoyment.
Or do some Christmas shopping for stocking stuffers – and bottles of Foxburg specialty wines and after-dinner dessert wines as hostess gifts for holiday parties and for your holiday celebrations, as well as unique wine-related stocking stuffers for those wine lovers on your list.
Not to mention something for yourself, like their deliciously robust River Queen, guaranteed to warm you on cold winter nights.
FOXBURG INN
Plan to enjoy a wonderful pre-Christmas weekend enjoying the peace of the valley and the concert of the Backtrack Vocals – extending your stay on Saturday or Sunday night at the newly renovated, romantic Foxburg Inn, where every room has a view of the river!
If you reserve early, you can get the room with the fireplace!
